Bangladesh
Bangladeshi business executives are usually very courteous, and try to make their foreign guests feel at ease. Men and women do not usually shake hands with each other, and may avoid doing so with a visitor of the opposite sex. Foreign visitors often find that hosting meals for their Bangladeshi agents or business contacts helps to smooth business negotiations. Visitors may also be invited to share meals as guests of their Bangladeshi hosts
Holidays/Work Week Bangladesh observes Friday-Saturday weekend. Business hours are 9:00-17:00. Banks observe the same hours as the BDG, while industry has a 48-hour week. Muslim religious holidays vary with appearance of the moon (they move ahead approximately 11 days every year).
Armed robbery, pickpocketing, and purse snatching are very real threats day or night, including in areas frequented by foreigners. There have been incidents, notably in Gulshan and Banani, where resident Westerners, familiar with local conditions, have been robbed at gunpoint. Do not wear jewelry in the street. Pickpockets and scam artists are commonplace and are a particular problem in Dhaka's Motijheel commercial district and the Purana Paltan business area.
Guests should place all valuables in hotel safe deposit boxes.
Thieves often work in pairs on motorcycles or 3-wheeled "baby taxis". Passengers using rickshaws and "baby taxis" or in taxis are particularly vulnerable, especially at night. Avoid using public transport, especially if traveling alone. If you need to, you can book taxis by telephone (in Dhaka), but you should exercise caution.
Abduction of children and businessmen for ransom is increasing, although this does not appear to be particularly directed at foreigners.
Do not accept assistance from strangers who seem eager to help with directions, as they may then demand payment for services.
Local law enforcement authorities are particularly alert and responsive to criminal activity in the areas where foreigners reside. Uniformed police are visible throughout the diplomatic enclave. However, their capability to respond quickly or effectively to an emergency situation is limited. The police lack mobile units, do not have adequate communication capability, and weapons are antiquated. Very few officers speak English. Foreigners in trouble are best served contacting their embassies. Officials sometimes abuse their authority; you should be accompanied when visiting police stations.
With regard to the Bangladeshi populace, the police are frequently accused of a wide range of human rights violations, of failing to prevent human rights abuses, of breaking a number of laws and of taking bribes. Amnesty International has highlighted the police as major perpetrators of torture, including of children. Deaths in police custody are high. Deaths in custody and in crossfire incidents have risen significantly in the past few months with the formation of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), responsible for the deaths of more than 100 people since its formation in July 2004.
Two international class hotels are located in Dhaka, the Dhaka Sheraton and the Sonargaon Pan Pacific Hotel. A more moderately priced but older hotel, the Hotel Purbani, is also used by business visitors to Dhaka. In Chittagong, business visitors usually stay at the Hotel Agrabad. For longer stays, guest-house accommodations are available in upper-class neighborhoods in Dhaka and Chittagong. The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation manages several modern hotels throughout the country. Bills normally must be paid in hard currency or with traveler's checks.
Restaurants in Dhaka and Chittagong serve mainly local (Bengali) and other Asian cuisines. Continental food is available at Dhaka's internationally operated hotels. The main components of local food are boiled rice and fish, or curry of mutton, beef, or chicken. Vegetables and lentils are also popular. There is no effective system of health inspection of restaurants.
The country code is 880 and the outgoing international code is 00. Telex, telephone, fax, Internet e-mail and airmail postal services are available for business correspondence. Most international telephone calls must be booked through an operator, usually after some delay, however limited telephone IDD service is available. Collect telephone calls or toll-free calls cannot be made from most areas of Bangladesh, but cellular phone service is available in Dhaka and Chittagong. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available to the major cities. International courier services, including Airborne, DHL, Federal Express, TNT Skypack, and United Parcel Service, operate to and from Bangladesh.
There are fax facilities at the Sheraton and Sonargaon hotels in Dhaka and services are now widely available in all the large towns. Post boxes are blue for airmail and red for surface mail.
Electricity is a 220/240 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the British 5- and 15-amp, 2- or 3-pin (round) type.
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the British 5- and 15-amp, two- or three-pin (round) type.
C,D,G,K
There are plenty of good restaurants in Dhaka and main towns around the country. Western food can be found in most hotels and in some large restaurants.
Things to know: Alcoholic drink is expensive and strict Muslim customs severely limit availability and drinking times, although leading hotels have bars which will serve alcohol.National specialties
• Curries such as korma, bhuna, masala gosht, kashmiri and tikka.
• Dishes are usually served with rice, naan or paratha (griddle-fried flat breads).
• Kebabs are widely available.
• Seafood and fresh-water fish are in natural abundance and smoked hilsa, fresh bhetki, chingri and prawns are definitely worth trying.
• Desserts tend to be sweet and milky, such as misti dhohi (sweetened yogurt), zorda (sweet rice with nuts) and ros malai (round sweets floating in thick milk). National drinks:
• Chai (milky sweet tea).
• Lassi (yogurt drink).
• Coconut water. Tipping:
Most services expect a tip in hotels; give 10 per cent for restaurant staff.Nightlife
Leading hotels have bars, but Western-style nightclubs do not exist. Displays of local dance and music are occasionally to be seen, particularly during religious festivals. Traditional theater can be seen in major cities and the Dhaka City Corporation has recently opened a modern theater hall called Dhaka Mohanagor Natya Mancha.
